General Question

What are 'don't miss' sights to see when travelling around the USA?

Right! I’m travelling around the USA this summer. I’m starting in New York, then up through New England, to Niagra, Washington DC, Chicago, Wisconsin then across on the I90 through Yellowstone to Seattle, down Highway 101 through San Francisco, LA and then to Vegas. THEN past Grand Canyon then to San Antonio, then New Orleans up to Memphis, back down to Atlanta and then down through Florida hitting Jacksonville, Orlando and Miami.
What should I make sure I check out along the way?!

Take the Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco to LA (at least part way if not all). Go to Big Sur….just beautiful.
Once you head from California through the Southwest, make sure that your air conditioning is working in your car and that you are carrying water…lots of it. You have to keep hydrated as the temperatures will often hit 110–120 in the desert.
Visit Santa Fe, New Mexico in the Southwest on your way from the Grand Canyon to Texas.
It’s beautiful, artsy and gorgeous. New Mexico is unique in its blend of ethnic traditions and its stunning landscape. I find it inspiring.

That’s my bit of advice.

Keep a journal…this may well be a journey of a lifetime…and you will want to remember it!

If you would like to experience some true wilderness and breathtaking scenery, travel a bit north from Wisconsin to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and visit The Porcupine Mountains along the shore of Lake Superior. It’s one of my favorite places in the U.S..

Right now, I’d visit the Louisiana coastline; 3 Mile Island; Prince William Sound in Alaska; Martin County, Kentucky; you can go take a swim in the Berkley pit in Butte, MO; or visit any of the many pit mines, oil farms, and other exciting pylons of American culture!

I agree with everyone on Big Sur, and particularly camping at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, if you can get a spot. I would (and have) taken the beach rout the entire distance from Canada to San Diego, popping inland only for Mount Rainier and Crater Lake, which could also serve as a spectacular dot to connect between Yellowstone and California.

Spend some time exploring San Francisco.

Definitely see Ken Burn’s PBS series “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea”, as recon before going to the parks in your trip.

@sliceswiththings we’re travelling from Boston up through Massachusetts, to Vermont and then back down in to NY via Saratoga Springs. It’s only a small venture in to the north east… too much to cover in 6 weeks – had to make some sacrifices :(

@Pied_Pfeffer thanks! A lot of the stuff you and the others have suggested is already on our itinerary – which is fantastic! It means we’re on the right track!
We’ve got Graceland, the Peabody and Beale street in our plans but not the other things – so thanks for those! We’ll check them out :)